Justin Britt has known for some time where he was going to play college football.
Tuesday night, he made sure he dotted his ‘I’s” and cross his “T’s,” and on Wednesday, it became official, as he faxed a signed national letter-of-intent to play at the University of Missouri to the Tiger coaching staff.
“I was like freaking out last night, I was like, ‘I have to make this right,’” he said. “I was going real slow when I signed it. I signed it last night, then I came to school and (LHS head coach Will) Christian faxed it over. Then I called them and talked to like, 12 (MU) coaches.
“It is a thrill.”
Unlike a few of his fellow members of the 2009 Tiger recruiting class, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive lineman said he never wavered after announcing his verbal commitment on June 16.
The Tigers signed 25 players on Wednesday, and were anxiously awaiting word whether a few of them, including five star recruit Sheldon Richardson, would honor their verbal commitment.
“Solid all the way through,” Britt said. “I didn’t talk to any other coaches. (Schools) would call, but I don’t want to talk to you.
“I am going to Mizzou — that’s all I wanted.”
In fact, Britt helped the Tigers recruit one of the two other local players who were among the 25 players MU signees on Wednesday.
“I helped talk Mark Hill, of Branson, into signing,” Britt said.
Hill, a fellow offensive lineman (6-foot-6 260 pounds) spurned the Arkansas Razorbacks — where his brother Steven Hill played basketball — to join Britt and nine other in-state recruits.
“We have been talking about rooming together,” Britt said.
Britt said an early commitment helped him focus on the season, but committing to a Tiger program that finished No. 19 in the final Associated Press poll had consequences.
“It put a target on me when I was on the field ... but it was nice getting that out of the way so I could focus on the season,” he said.
Britt said he needs to gain 30 pounds and get stronger before he heads to Columbia to compete as a freshman. To that end, Britt said he is taking the spring off (he has previously competed in track) to concentrate on adding weight.
“I’ve been trying (to add weight) but wrestling season you work real hard and sweat a lot and work it off,” Britt said. “I am at about 260 (pounds) right now, and getting to 290 would be real nice.”
Lebanon memories
Britt was a part of a football resurgence at LHS this season that included an appearance in the Class 5 playoffs where they recorded a regional win over Glendale and took on the then-No. 1 ranked team, Raymore-Peculiar, in sectionals.
“Beating Camdenton is probably the No. 1 (memory) and going to the playoffs,” Britt said. “Driving around in the bus (before LHS left for its playoff game) seeing all the kids outside cheering — it is really emotional ... you are going to miss it (high school football) but then you realize you are going to a bigger level and start over again as a freshman.”
Britt will be starting over without his Lebanon teammates, including Ryan Howerton and Phillip Archer, who both signed Wednesday to play at Lindenwood.
“I wish Ryan would have went to Mizzou and Phillip too, but they’ll do good,” he said. “They both can start next year, it’ll be good to hear about them.
“Maybe they can transfer to Mizzou.”
